The pass percentage of girls who took the ICSE is 97.99 per cent, whereas 97.42 per cent of the boys passed. In the ISC, boys have a pass percentage of 96.25 while the girls have 97.91 per cent.

Of the 21,008 students, who appeared for ICSE from 268 schools in the state, 97.66 per cent passed. For the ISC examination, 14,851 students appeared from 154 schools: the pass per cent was 96.97.

Nationwide statistics, however, shows West Bengal is trailing behind: 98.04 students passed the ICSE while 97.04 per cent students passed the ISC examinations.

Of the 244 candidates from the state listed under grade '1' in the ICSE, 139 are boys, who hit the grade in each of the seven subjects, as compared to 105 girls.

In the ISC examination, 60 candidates -- 16 boys and 44 girls -- are listed under grade '1'. Most students have got good marks in environmental studies. "Students benefit by having environmental science as a regular subject. Students seem to get get good marks in the subject. In other boards, grades are given for the subject," said Animesh Dey, the principal of Pranavananda Vidya Mandir.

Sumeru Nayak from St Xavier's School, Burdwan, got the highest marks — 98.4 per cent (English plus best of four subjects) — from the state.

Saptarshi Bhattacharya from Salt Lake School and Annesha Chakraborti from G D Birla Centre for Education topped the ISC Examination with 98.25 per cent (English plus best of three subjects).

THE TOPPERS
Saptarshi Bhattacharya — 98.25 % (ISC)
Son of a bank employee and a resident of Kestopur, Saptarshi says he wants to pursue a career in engineering. He has set his eyes on cracking entrance tests to premier engineering colleges. He has 99 in mathematics, 98 in Chemistry, 98 in English, 98 in Environmental Science.

Annesha Chakraborti — 98.25 % (ISC)
Born to doctor parents, Annesha too wants to be a doctor. Her father is an urologist at the SSKM Hospital while her mother is a physiologist. Annesha says she loves sports. "I relax by watching football and cricket.”